22 February 2015 - ENCS

Concluding the series, Nate Curtis spoke on "Spiritual Family"

To describe family, some pictures and diagrams we did see

About our family, four concentric bubbles reflect our perception

The inner one is of course ourselves, there is never an exception

To the immediate family our understanding then does grow

Then local and global spiritual families we come to know

 

Family is very important to God, as Nate did very adroitly distill

In Matthew twelve, Jesus' family includes all who do God's will

Per First Corinthians twelve, the church is one body, many parts

From those two concepts, knowledge of a spiritual family starts
A family, natural or spiritual, provides an identity and destiny

Remember that within any family, differences there will be

But since Jesus is coming back not for a harem, but for His bride

That means that the church must work together and not divide

For those who believe in Jesus, this includes all, not just some

Whether Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, or Coptic they are from

 

Spiritual families are important as they form building blocks that are key

The kingdom of God, our identity, as well as a stable and safe society

Spiritual families multiply, teach, train, exercise knowledge, and love

This is in keeping with biblical teaching which comes from God above

First Corinthians twelve also states that if one part suffers, all parts do

Likewise if one part is honored, every other part rejoices with it too

About the Coptic Christian martyrs, a powerful poem Nate did then read

They were praying and singing hymns to God right until ISIS' ugly deed

The twenty one refused to deny Christ even when facing certain death

They remained true to God and the Christian faith until their last breath

 

Nate proceeded to tell us how we should fit into the family

Dive in and do good in whatever role we have is the key

God's blueprint for the family can only in Genesis be found

The linkages between God, us, and others are quite sound

Per Hebrews ten we should meet and encourage each other

In that way, toward love and good deeds we spur our brother

Romans twelve talks about being devoted in brotherly love

With passion, joy, and patience serving our Lord God above

 

In conclusion Nate said we should join in, jump in, and stay in

God's family is open, always waiting for another next of kin

We should strive to make a difference in whatever way

Thus in God's presence and family we will always stay

15 February 2015 - ENCS

On Relationships did Pastor Josh the "Family" series continue

About three primary boy girl relationships he did first us imbue

Between friendship and engagement, there is a Biblical gap

But that doesn't mean God won't provide us with a road map

By letting convictions drive the entire relationship

And of course Acts fifteen provides a strong tip

Josh said to beware of legalism which causes rebellion

We should instead let relationships drive communication

From engagement to marriage the same holds true

Sexual immorality is something we should not do

For if God provides a principal, we should pay attention

But Jesus can make us whole if we fail at sin prevention

 

Josh then shared how to build relationships of health

Community and friends are worth more than wealth

The first step is to have a foundation built on trust

Hard to build but easy to break, Josh discussed

For a deep relationship, the trust must also be deep

Your own trustworthiness is something you can keep

Per James five verse twelve, let your yes be yes

Then about your words nobody will need to guess

Per Ephesians four, we are to speak the truth in love

Building others up so we can all work for God above

 

The second point from Josh is that love is the real substance

Feelings come and go, but love motivates, even in advance

The best description of love in the Bible is easily seen

In First Corinthians thirteen verses one to fourteen

For love must be shared with thoughts, words, and actions

And love can thus overcome all challenges and distractions

 

The third point is the communication is how love grows

A lack of communication is when death's face shows

Josh said it is critical to keep communication lines open

And to respond to God rather than to any hostile men

From James chapter one verses nineteen and twenty

Comes a reminder that should be repeated a-plenty

Be quick to listen, slow to anger and slow to speak

Is consistent with our two ears, one mouth physique

 

The fourth point is that forgiveness is akin to a reboot

It allows a relationship to restart after any dispute

To Hebrews twelve verse fourteen, Josh did then refer

Strive to live in peace with all and all bitterness deter

Per Matthew chapter six verse fourteen, Jesus did state

If we forgive others, God will forgive us without debate

But if we do not forgive others for their sins of any kind

Then for our many sins, God will be similarly inclined

Although with our eternal life this may not be messing

In some areas of our life, it will block God's blessing

 

The final point is perhaps the most important one

Without God, none of the others can really be done

For He alone knows when we need some fixing

And then into our heart, His grace will be mixing

From Acts chapter one, Pastor Josh did then read

For us to do His work, the Holy Spirit we do need

John three verse sixteen notes God's amazing love

He sent His only Son to save us from heaven above

Both Psalm nineteen and John ten verse four

Talk about shepherds lead rather than implore

And finally, from Colossians chapter one

God's redemptive work in us is never done

8 February 2015 - ENCS

The family series was continued by Pastor Josh and his wife

Nani and Josh spoke on "Parenthood", rather central to life

 

Nani said moving from single to married to parent, issues grow

But God uses these to make us better, she has come to know

As God's children, into the world we should want to bring others

An open heart for God's plan should have all fathers and mothers

But remember that from parents' action children take their cue

And that children tend to build upon what their parents do

 

Josh read from Deuteronomy chapter six, verses one to three

God teaches parents, who teach future generations, we did see

By sharing with children, parents can impart knowledge and lore

Our Lord God can build on this by imparting knowledge even more

Josh opined that fathering is increasingly in today's world a lost art

With healthy marriages and parenting, many issues would not start

The next six verses of Deuteronomy six then came into sight

We should love our God with all of our heart, soul, and might

In that vein, with diligence parents should their children teach

And if they love God so much, into all areas of life He will reach

As parents change and consistently show that love is key

Then their children will notice and begin to act accordingly

 

Josh then talked about discipline, using a couple of equations

For some discipline and rules are necessary on most occasions

Rules without a relationship lead to rebellion, Josh did say

Which then leads to extreme behavior on too many a day

And yet a relationship without rules leads to recklessness

If parents do not provide guidance, children end up a mess

But the same approach does not work with Christians young

We need to encourage them without rules or a sharp tongue

Josh referred to Hebrews chapter twelve from verse five

The Lord's discipline actually helps us in the end to thrive

He only disciplines those whom He accepts as a son

Per Proverbs three this discipline we should not shun

We should respect disciplining fathers, Hebrews continues

Ditto for God, whose discipline into our hearts does infuse

The third equation Josh shared -  with a bit of zing

Was that relationship plus rules equals understanding

Children will ask for advice if relationships are in place

Josh then said that for discipleship, this is also the case

 

But even the best parenting can lead to bad results

Per Luke fifteen, the prodigal son who said insults

But just as lost sheep need a shepherd to find them

Strong foundations help the prodigal, not condemn

His father felt compassion when the son did return

For the foundations had helped the son to discern

5 February 2015 - Psalm 37: 1-9

At times, from day to day I just seem to lurch
Except on Sunday, when I get to go to church
I wake up to the sound of my phone's alarm
And thank God that I have come to no harm
But then I often ask, "what day and what time?"
For my cobwebbed brain is far from its prime
Then after I ascertain the right time and day
I arise from bed and go forth on my way
I feed myself a devotional and a cup of joe
Then I am ready to get on with the show
Laughter and a couple of short naps do help
Otherwise the tired body really starts to yelp
Although this is not what I would like to admit
It is tougher to address the issue of the spirit
But this is when the Word of God I must rely
For His loving wisdom is never in short supply
 
Today I was drawn to Psalm thirty seven
David said "Trust in the Lord" in heaven
"Do not fret because of evil men", per verse one
"Or be envious of those" who wrong have done
"Dwell in the land and...delight yourself in the Lord"
"He will give you the desires of your heart" as a reward
David said to "be still before the Lord"
"Wait patiently for him" and his Word
"Do not fret when men succeed in their ways"
Using "wicked schemes" all of their days
"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath"
"Do not fret"; it only leads to an evil path
"For evil men will be cut off"
At this we should not scoff
"But those who hope" in our God
"Will inherit the land" with His nod

So I will be still and wait patiently but not fret
And with evil men I will try not to get upset
Instead I will focus on giving thanks to Him above
For He is the source of eternal and unfailing love

1 February 2015 - ENCS

Pastor Josh started the "Family" series at Every Nation

For the enemy will attack our families, our foundation

He said that marriage is where every family should start

In Matthew nineteen, Jesus said "let no man take apart"

The Pharisees were testing him for no good reason

Focused on divorce not marriage, looking for treason

Jesus said that divorce only arose due to hardness of heart

He referred them to Scripture before a rebuke he did impart

 

Pastor Josh then focused us on Genesis chapter two

And read from verse eighteen what God did say and do

God said it was not good for man to be alone

From Adam, God made Eve from a rib bone

She was to be his helper, or 'ezer' in Hebrew

As a 'neged', she was to be his opposite too

So together their union would make a whole

That was God's plan; each had an equal role

 

Josh said not to look at what actually did occur

For that is not how God's plans we should infer

To attain God's standards we need His grace

The cross bridges the gap to the right place

As woman was created to be by man's side

There should be openness and trust, no pride

But per the beginning of Genesis chapter three

Eve was misled and confused by the enemy

He twists truths and empowers compromise

Leading us down paths wrong and unwise

When on our own understanding we do trust

Into fear, shame, and trouble we are thrust

In Adam and Eve's case, in any Biblical translation

They were cursed with competition, not cooperation

 

Husbands and wives, therefore, must focus on love

As per First Corinthians thirteen, like God above

In order to love others, we must love the Lord

Mirroring that love so marriage can be restored

For the old has passed and the new has come

God's love ensures there is no reason to be glum